Global dredging cos get nod for Mumbai-JNPT channel project
After six months delay, three short-listed international dredging giants —Boskalis and Van Oord BV, from the Netherlands, and Dredging International from Belgium — have finally received the security clearance to bid for the mega Mumbai-JNPT channel dredging project.
A senior JNPT official said the price bids would be opened mid-next week, and would award the contract to the bidder who quotes the lowest. JNPT, which was expected to open price bids for the project on February 7, was forced to postpone it twice.
“We had asked the bidders to extend their bid validity twice — first to March 20 and later, to April 20," said the JNPT official, adding that the bids would have otherwise turned invalid by February 19. The bidders have remained in the fray, by extending their bid validity. The 28-km channel dredging, which aims to facilitate navigation of large ships, was cleared by public investment board (PIB) for around Rs 800 crore, and is expected to be completed in 27 months from the date of award of contract.
"This is one of the largest capital dredging projects that Indian ports have ever bid for. Though there were 4 bidders initially, Jan de nul of Belgium got disqualified at the technical stage, since its bid did not conform to the bidding procedure laid out by JNPT," said sources.
After the JNPT board approved the short-list, it was sent to shipping ministry, which, in turn, sent the same for home ministry's approval. In the tender, it was clarified that the price bids would be opened only if the bidders get security clearance.
A senior JNPT official said the price bids would be opened mid-next week, and would award the contract to the bidder who quotes the lowest. JNPT, which was expected to open price bids for the project on February 7, was forced to postpone it twice.
“We had asked the bidders to extend their bid validity twice — first to March 20 and later, to April 20," said the JNPT official, adding that the bids would have otherwise turned invalid by February 19. The bidders have remained in the fray, by extending their bid validity. The 28-km channel dredging, which aims to facilitate navigation of large ships, was cleared by public investment board (PIB) for around Rs 800 crore, and is expected to be completed in 27 months from the date of award of contract.
"This is one of the largest capital dredging projects that Indian ports have ever bid for. Though there were 4 bidders initially, Jan de nul of Belgium got disqualified at the technical stage, since its bid did not conform to the bidding procedure laid out by JNPT," said sources.
After the JNPT board approved the short-list, it was sent to shipping ministry, which, in turn, sent the same for home ministry's approval. In the tender, it was clarified that the price bids would be opened only if the bidders get security clearance.